Explore Major Issues

Perhaps the most difficult and challenging step to embarking on a civics action project is exploring and identifying a issue-based project that matters most to you and that you are most passionate. If you are working with a team of your peers, it can either become much easier or a whole lot harder to choosing (and sticking with) a civics action project.

Reflect on current events and issues that were introduced and discussed in your classes over the year. Which ones stuck out to you, and compelled you to think, "There ought to be a better way," or "Something should be done about that." If your memory is "foggy," explore some major issues that you have heard, read, or watched on the local news, or you and your family, your peers and teachers, and/or your close friends have discussed most recently. 

Below are some major problems and issues facing our region, state, and country. In small groups, explore a few of these problems and issues that you find most concerning or would like to learn more about. Honors classes may this form to record information gained from the sources you explored. Feel free to use other sources but be sure to verify the sources. Later, you will prepare a visual presentation about each problem or issue you examined.

If you still feel unsure on what you would do for a project, make time to learn about your community and take a pulse or temperature that several of your fellow peers are interested and passionate about, and ask them why are they interested about the issue and why is it important to address the issue; perhaps even ask what might happen if the issue is not addressed.

Whatever the issue you are considering or planning to focus on, be sure that addressing the issue is something that will improve your community and society, and will have a positive lasting impact to everyone and to future generations.